As Tết 2026, the Vietnamese Lunar New Year, approaches this February, families across the country are busy preparing their homes to welcome the Year of the Horse. Householders visit markets and supermarkets to purchase flowers for decoration and fruits for ancestral altars - symbols of respect, prosperity, and enduring family values. A visit to today’s markets or supermarkets illustrates the diversity of agricultural products available. Consumers selecting apples, for example, are offered with a wide range of options: Gala, Fuji, Red Delicious, Pink Lady, or Tessa apples from the Netherlands, each differing in taste, texture, appearance, and shelf life. Similarly, flower sections offer an extensive selection of lilies, chrysanthemums, tulips, and other ornamentals, allowing consumers to choose based on color, fragrance, durability, and ease of care.
Beeld: © EKN Hanoi / Ingrid Korving
Flower farm in Dalat Hasfarm, Lam Dong.
Do you know that this diversity is the result of decades of sustained plant breeding and innovation? Worldwide, more than 7,500 apple varieties are grown. In the Netherlands alone, over 3,000 tulip varieties have been registered. Each year, from March to May, at Keukenhof Garden, more than 7 million flower bulbs are planted by hand, showcasing approximately 800 different tulip varieties to visitors around the world.
Why new varieties continue to be developed
New plant varieties continue to be developed to meet evolving consumer preferences across markets. Some consumers prefer crunchy and sour apples, while others favor sweetness. Certain varieties are bred to look brighter on market shelves, stay fresh longer, or reduce damage during long-distance transportation. Plant breeding also plays a critical role in addressing climate change and resource limitations. Breeding companies, such as Rijk Zwaan, East-West Seed, Enza Zaden, and Bejo from the Netherlands, have developed varieties with enhanced heat tolerance, salt tolerance, and resistance to pests and diseases, helping farmers adapt to changing environmental conditions while reducing reliance on chemical inputs. At the same time, agricultural land is limited, and global population growth continues to increase demand for food. High-quality seeds and planting materials enable higher yields per hectare, making new plant varieties a key tool for achieving food security and sustainable agriculture.
Vietnam itself possesses a strong and diverse portfolio of rice varieties. These varieties demonstrate strong resistance to pests and diseases, wide adaptability, high yields, and excellent quality. From 2020 to mid-2024, 267 rice varieties were officially recognized. Popular varieties such as ST25, ST24, Bắc Hương, Tám Xoan, and Nàng Xuân are well known to Vietnamese consumers and increasingly to international markets.
Beeld: © ©RolfvanKoppen / Dutch Greenhouse Delta
Orchid varieties at OK Plant Nursery in Naaldwijk, the Netherlands
The Dutch Seed Sector: A Global Leader
The Netherlands is a global leader in plant breeding and plant reproductive materials. The Dutch seed sector includes over 200 breeding companies and more than 7,000 propagators, working across vegetables, fruits, flowers, seed potatoes, and ornamental plants. Dutch seed companies invest heavily in research and development, allocating on average 15% of their turnover to R&D, with some companies investing up to 30%. Annual private-sector investment in plant breeding R&D is estimated at €700 million, a proportion higher than that seen in many other high-technology industries. Notably, more than 45% of plant breeders’ rights applications in Europe originate from Dutch breeders.
The Netherlands is also the world’s largest exporter of plant reproductive materials, valued at over €5 billion in 2023, and accounts for around 40% of global vegetable seed trade and 55% of seed potato trade. In addition, the Netherlands plays a significant role in the development and promotion of plant breeders’ rights at the international level with capacity building activities to support countries in small projects, managed by Naktuinbouw in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature, CPVO, UPOV and Plantum.
Why This Matters for Vietnam
Vietnam’s fruit and vegetable sector is among the fastest-growing in agriculture. By the end of 2025, export turnover exceeded USD 8.5 billion, representing a historic record . However, Vietnamese agricultural exports, particularly fruits such as dragon fruit and durian, as well as flowers, face challenges related to plant variety protection in high-standard international markets. The use of unprotected varieties or unauthorized propagation can result in export restrictions, legal disputes, and reputational risks. As Vietnam seeks to position itself as a regional hub for horticultural development, respect for PVP and breeders’ rights is an essential foundation.
Beeld: © EKN Hanoi / Ingrid Korving
Plant Variety Protection experts visiting a flower farm in Lam Dong province, Vietnam
Vietnam’s accession to the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) in 2006 marked an important step toward fostering innovation in plant breeding and supporting the development of a modern, competitive seed sector. Since its accession, Vietnam has made significant progress in establishing rights over plant varieties, positioning itself as a leading country in the region in plant variety protection. This achievement is reflected in the growing number of new PVP applications submitted annually, increased breeding activities, greater availability of improved varieties, diversification of breeders with various backgrounds, and enhanced incomes and livelihoods for farmers.
Protecting Innovation for the Future
When we enjoy the wide choice of fruits, flowers, and plants in supermarkets and gardens, it’s easy to forget the effort behind them. Protecting new plant varieties recognizes that effort and ensures continued innovation - for farmers, retailers, and consumers alike. This Tet, as you enjoy the beauty of flowers and the abundance of fruits, take a moment to think about the varieties behind them - and why protecting new plant varieties matters. And if you have time during Tet, visit the Netherlands Flower Booth at Nguyen Hue Flower Boulevard from 15 to 22 February 2026 to learn more about the Dutch horticulture sector and the importance of plant breeders’ rights.
Contact information
Do you have any questions for the Agriculture Department at the Netherlands Embassy in Vietnam? If so, please send an email to HAN-LVVN@minbuza.nl or HCM-LVVN@minbuza.nl. For the latest updates, news, funding opportunities and more, follow our LinkedIn: Netherlands Agricultural Network in Vietnam.